System and method of communicating emergency alerts

ABSTRACT

A set-top box device is disclosed. The set-top box device includes a processor and a memory device accessible to the processor. The memory device includes instructions to communicate with a multi-cast alert server to receive a multicast emergency alert message. The multicast emergency alert message includes data related to a location code and data related to a set-top box action. The memory device stores location information and includes instructions to execute the set-top box action when the location code matches the location information.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from and is a continuation ofpatent application Ser. No. 11/510,850 filed on Aug. 25, 2006, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,515,036, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATINGEMERGENCY ALERTS,” the contents of which are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to communicating emergencyalerts.

BACKGROUND

Television viewing is part of daily life for many people. The wealth ofcontent available from television service providers allows many peopleto find entertaining and informative programming despite their varyinginterests. As a result, television also provides a source ofcommunication for government officials to provide emergency alerts andinformation. Most emergency alerts pertain to a specific geographiclocation within a television viewing area. Because television viewingareas can cover multiple locations, such as multiple counties, manyviewers will receive emergency alerts that do not apply to them. Somesystems attempt to determine which viewers should receive an emergencyalert prior to transmission, and the alert is unicast to those viewers.However, such unicast connections can require extensive resources andcan prevent scalability of a television service network. Hence, there isa need for a system and method of communicating emergency alerts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of asystem to communicate emergency alerts;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a system to communicate emergency alerts;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of amethod of communicating emergency alerts;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a method of communicating emergency alerts; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a particular embodiment, a set-top box device is disclosed thatincludes a processor and a memory device accessible to the processor.The memory device includes instructions to communicate with a multicastalert server to receive a multicast emergency alert message. Themulticast emergency alert message includes data related to a locationcode and data related to a set-top box action. The memory device storeslocation information and includes instructions to execute the set-topbox action when the location code matches the location information.

In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed to communicateemergency alerts. The system includes a multicast alert server having aprocessor and a memory device accessible to the processor. The memorydevice includes instructions to send a multicast emergency alert messageto a first set-top box device at a first location and to a secondset-top box device at a second location via a multicast-enabled network.The multicast emergency alert message includes data related to a set-topbox action and data related to a location code. The first set-top boxdevice executes the set-top box action when the location codecorresponds to the first location, and the second set-top box deviceexecutes the set-top box action when the location code corresponds tothe second location.

In another particular embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium isdisclosed. The computer-readable storage medium includes instructions,that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to communicatewith a multicast alert server to receive a multicast emergency alertmessage via a multicast-enabled network of an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) system. The multicast emergency alert message includesdata related to a location code and data related to a set-top boxaction. The computer-readable storage medium also includes instructions,that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute theset-top box action when the location code matches location informationstored at a set-top box device.

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustrative embodiment of an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) system that may be used to communicate emergencyalerts is illustrated and is generally designated 100. As shown, thesystem 100 can include a client facing tier 102, an application tier104, an acquisition tier 106, and an operations and management tier 108.Each tier 102, 104, 106, 108 is coupled to a private network 110; to apublic network 112, such as the Internet; or to both the private network110 and the public network 112. For example, the client-facing tier 102can be coupled to the private network 110. Further, the application tier104 can be coupled to the private network 110 and to the public network112. The acquisition tier 106 can also be coupled to the private network110 and to the public network 112. Additionally, the operations andmanagement tier 108 can be coupled to the public network 112.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the various tiers 102, 104, 106, 108communicate with each other via the private network 110 and the publicnetwork 112. For instance, the client-facing tier 102 can communicatewith the application tier 104 and the acquisition tier 106 via theprivate network 110. The application tier 104 can communicate with theacquisition tier 106 via the private network 110. Further, theapplication tier 104 can communicate with the acquisition tier 106 andthe operations and management tier 108 via the public network 112.Moreover, the acquisition tier 106 can communicate with the operationsand management tier 108 via the public network 112. In a particularembodiment, elements of the application tier 104, including, but notlimited to, a client gateway 150, can communicate directly with theclient-facing tier 102.

The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with user equipment via anaccess network 166, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)access network. In an illustrative embodiment, customer premisesequipment (CPE) 114, 122 can be coupled to a local switch, router, orother device of the access network 166. The client-facing tier 102 cancommunicate with a first representative set-top box device 116 at afirst customer premise via the first CPE 114 and with a secondrepresentative set-top box device 124 at a second customer premise viathe second CPE 122. In a particular embodiment, the CPE 114, 122 cancommunicate with computing devices at customer premises, such as thecomputing device 178 coupled to the second CPE 122. The CPE 114, 122 caninclude routers, local area network devices, modems, such as digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modems, any other suitable devices forfacilitating communication between a set-top box device and the accessnetwork 166, or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can be coupled tothe CPE 114, 122 via fiber optic cables. Alternatively, the CPE 114, 122can be digital subscriber line (DSL) modems that are coupled to one ormore network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier 102 canbe coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top boxdevice 116, 124 can process data received via the access network 166,via an IPTV software platform, such as Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition.

The first set-top box device 116 can be coupled to a first externaldisplay device, such as a first television monitor 118, and the secondset-top box device 124 can be coupled to a second external displaydevice, such as a second television monitor 126. Moreover, the firstset-top box device 116 can communicate with a first remote control 120,and the second set-top box device 124 can communicate with a secondremote control 128. The set-top box devices 116, 124 can include IPTVset-top box devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adaptedto receive IPTV content; personal computers or other computing devicesthat are adapted to emulate set-top box device functionalities; anyother device adapted to receive IPTV content and transmit data to anIPTV system via an access network; or any combination thereof.

In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 116,124 can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from theclient-facing tier 102 via the access network 166 and render or displaythe data, video, or any combination thereof, at the display device 118,126 to which it is coupled. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-topbox devices 116, 124 can include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming signals or packet streams for transmission to thedisplay devices 118, 126. Further, the set-top box devices 116, 124 caninclude a STB processor 170 and a STB memory device 172 that isaccessible to the STB processor 170. In one embodiment, a computerprogram, such as the STB computer program 174, can be embedded withinthe STB memory device 172.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 130 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 102 and the access network 166 and between theclient-facing tier 102 and the private network 110. As illustrated, theCFT switch 130 is coupled to one or more data servers, such as D-servers132, that store, format, encode, replicate, or otherwise manipulate orprepare video content for communication from the client-facing tier 102to the set-top box devices 116, 124. The CFT switch 130 can also becoupled to a terminal server 134 that provides terminal devices with aconnection point to the private network 110. In a particular embodiment,the CFT switch 130 can be coupled to a video-on-demand (VOD) server 136that stores or provides VOD content imported by the IPTV system 100.

Further, the CFT switch 130 is coupled to one or more video servers 180that receive video content and transmit the content to the set-top boxes116, 124 via the access network 166. In a particular embodiment, the CFTswitch 130 can be coupled to one or more multicast alert servers 182that receive emergency alerts from an emergency alert system (EAS)receiver, such as a first emergency alert system 184 and a secondemergency alert system 190, and send multicast emergency alert messagesthat are based on the emergency alerts to the set-top box devices 116,124.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 cancommunicate with a large number of set-top boxes, such as therepresentative set-top boxes 116, 124 over a wide geographic area, suchas a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a statewide area, a regionalarea, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, marketarea, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported bynetworking the client-facing tier 102 to numerous set-top box devices.In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 130, or any portion thereof,can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multipleset-top box devices via a multicast-enabled network.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the application tier 104 can communicate withboth the private network 110 and the public network 112. The applicationtier 104 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 138 and asecond APP switch 140. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch138 can be coupled to the second APP switch 140. The first APP switch138 can be coupled to an application server 142 and to an OSS/BSSgateway 144. In a particular embodiment, the application server 142 canprovide applications to the set-top box devices 116, 124 via the accessnetwork 166, which enable the set-top box devices 116, 124 to providefunctions, such as display, messaging, processing of IPTV data and VODmaterial, etc. In an illustrative embodiment, the application server 142can provide location information to the set-top box devices 116, 124. Ina particular embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 144 includes operationsystems and support (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support(BSS) data. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 144 can provide orrestrict access to an OSS/BSS server 164 that stores operations andbilling systems data.

The second APP switch 140 can be coupled to a domain controller 146 thatprovides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers 168via the public network 112. For example, the domain controller 146 canprovide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail,personalized Internet services, or other online services via the publicnetwork 112. In addition, the second APP switch 140 can be coupled to asubscriber and system store 148 that includes account information, suchas account information that is associated with users who access the IPTVsystem 100 via the private network 110 or the public network 112. In anillustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store 148 can storesubscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profilesthat are associated with IP addresses of corresponding set-top boxdevices 116, 124.

In a particular embodiment, the application tier 104 can include aclient gateway 150 that communicates data directly to the client-facingtier 102. In this embodiment, the client gateway 150 can be coupleddirectly to the CFT switch 130. The client gateway 150 can provide useraccess to the private network 110 and the tiers coupled thereto. In anillustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices 116, 124 can access theIPTV system 100 via the access network 166, using information receivedfrom the client gateway 150. User devices can access the client gateway150 via the access network 166, and the client gateway 150 can allowsuch devices to access the private network 110 once the devices areauthenticated or verified. Similarly, the client gateway 150 can preventunauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen set-top boxdevices from accessing the private network 110, by denying access tothese devices beyond the access network 166.

For example, when the first representative set-top box device 116accesses the client-facing tier 102 via the access network 166, theclient gateway 150 can verify subscriber information by communicatingwith the subscriber and system store 148 via the private network 110.Further, the client gateway 150 can verify billing information andstatus by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway 144 via the privatenetwork 110. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 144 can transmit aquery via the public network 112 to the OSS/BSS server 164. After theclient gateway 150 confirms subscriber and/or billing information, theclient gateway 150 can allow the set-top box device 116 to access IPTVcontent and VOD content at the client-facing tier 102. If the clientgateway 150 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top boxdevice 116, e.g., because it is connected to an unauthorized twistedpair, the client gateway 150 can block transmissions to and from theset-top box device 116 beyond the access network 166.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the acquisition tier 106 includes an acquisitiontier (AQT) switch 152 that communicates with the private network 110.The AQT switch 152 can also communicate with the operations andmanagement tier 108 via the public network 112. In a particularembodiment, the AQT switch 152 can be coupled to a live acquisitionserver 154 that receives or acquires television content, movie content,advertisement content, other video content, or any combination thereof,from a broadcast service 156, such as a satellite acquisition system orsatellite head-end office. In a particular embodiment, the liveacquisition server 154 can transmit content to the AQT switch 152, andthe AQT switch 152 can transmit the content to the CFT switch 130 viathe private network 110.

In an illustrative embodiment, content can be transmitted to theD-servers 132, where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated,or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from the videoserver(s) 180 to the set-top box devices 116, 124. The CFT switch 130can receive content from the video server(s) 180 and communicate thecontent to the CPE 114, 122 via the access network 166. The set-top boxdevices 116, 124 can receive the content via the CPE 114, 122, and cantransmit the content to the television monitors 118, 126. In anillustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of the content can bestreamed to the set-top box devices 116, 124.

Further, the AQT switch 152 can be coupled to a video-on-demand importerserver 158 that receives and stores television or movie content receivedat the acquisition tier 106 and communicates the stored content to theVOD server 136 at the client-facing tier 102 via the private network110. Additionally, at the acquisition tier 106, the video-on-demand(VOD) importer server 158 can receive content from one or more VODsources outside the IPTV system 100, such as movie studios andprogrammers of non-live content. The VOD importer server 158 cantransmit the VOD content to the AQT switch 152, and the AQT switch 152,in turn, can communicate the material to the CFT switch 130 via theprivate network 110. The VOD content can be stored at one or moreservers, such as the VOD server 136.

When users issue requests for VOD content via the set-top box devices116, 124, the requests can be transmitted over the access network 166 tothe VOD server 136, via the CFT switch 130. Upon receiving suchrequests, the VOD server 136 can retrieve the requested VOD content andtransmit the content to the set-top box devices 116,124 across theaccess network 166, via the CFT switch 130. The set-top box devices 116,124 can transmit the VOD content to the television monitors 118, 126. Inan illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of VOD content canbe streamed to the set-top box devices 116, 124.

In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the AQT switch 152 can becoupled to a first emergency alert system 184, such as an EAS off-airreceiver that receives emergency alerts from a national weather service,an emergency broadcast system, or another emergency alert service. In analternative embodiment, the first emergency alert system 184 can becoupled to the CFT switch 130, to the multicast alert server 182, or tothe terminal server 134. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, asecond emergency alert system 190 can be coupled to the public network112.

FIG. 1 further illustrates that the operations and management tier 108can include an operations and management tier (OMT) switch 160 thatconducts communication between the operations and management tier 108and the public network 112. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1, theOMT switch 160 is coupled to a TV2 server 162. Additionally, the OMTswitch 160 can be coupled to an OSS/BSS server 164 and to a simplenetwork management protocol (SNMP) monitor 186 that monitors networkdevices within or coupled to the IPTV system 100. In a particularembodiment, the OMT switch 160 can communicate with the AQT switch 152via the public network 112.

In an illustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server 154 cantransmit content to the AQT switch 152, and the AQT switch 152, in turn,can transmit the content to the OMT switch 160 via the public network112. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 160 can transmit the content tothe TV2 server 162 for display to users accessing the user interface atthe TV2 server 162. For example, a user can access the TV2 server 162using a personal computer 168 coupled to the public network 112.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, an emergency alert is receivedat the first emergency alert system 184. The emergency alert can be aweather alert, a civil defense alert, an Amber alert, a Presidentialalert, or any other emergency alert. In a particular embodiment, theemergency alert can indicate one or more geographic areas to which theemergency alert applies, such as a street, city, zip code, area code,county, state, region, time zone, nation, or other geographic area. Theemergency alert can also include emergency alert information, such asthe type of emergency, a degree of urgency associated with theemergency, safety precaution instructions, other emergency alertinformation, or any combination thereof. In an illustrative embodiment,the first emergency alert system 184 can communicate the emergency alertto the multicast alert server(s) 182 over the private network via theAQT switch.

In another particular embodiment, an emergency alert can be received atthe second emergency alert system 190. The emergency alert can bereceived at the second emergency alert system 190 from an emergencyalert service, for example, via radio transmission. Alternatively, theemergency alert can be received at the second emergency alert system 190via the public network 112, for instance, from a web browser or webserver application operating at a user computing device 168, such ascustomer computing device, a local law enforcement computing device(e.g., for Amber alerts), a local government agency computing device, orother computing device that can issue emergency alerts related to aspecific geographic area. In an illustrative embodiment, the secondemergency alert system 190 can send a unicast message including theemergency alert to the multicast alert server 182 over the publicnetwork 112 via the AQT switch 152 or the second APP switch 140.

The multicast alert server(s) 182 can generate a multicast emergencyalert message based on an emergency alert that it receives from thefirst emergency alert system 184, the second emergency alert system 190,or any combination thereof (e.g., in the case of multiple redundantalerts). In a particular embodiment, the multicast emergency alertmessage includes data related to a location code and data related to anaction to be taken by a set-top box device. The location code(s) canindicate one or more geographic areas to which the emergency alertreceived from the first emergency alert system 184 applies. Forinstance, the location code can indicate streets, zip codes, area codes,cities, counties, states, regions, time zones, nations, or othergeographic areas. In another embodiment, the location code(s) canindicate one or more IP addresses of set-top box devices in the intendedgeographic area(s).

The multicast emergency alert message can also include data related toany emergency alert information included with the emergency alertreceived from the first emergency alert system 184. In an illustrativeembodiment, the multicast alert server(s) 182 can format the multicastemergency alert message to be sent via a multicast-enabled network to aplurality of set-top box devices in multiple geographic areas.

In an illustrative embodiment, the access network 166 can be amulticast-enabled network that communicates with a plurality of set-topboxes in multiple geographic areas. For example, the firstrepresentative set-top box device 116 can be at a customer premise in afirst geographic area, and the second representative set-top box device124 can be at a customer premise in a second geographic area. Themulticast alert server(s) 182 can multicast the multicast emergencyalert message to all set-top box devices communicating with the accessnetwork 166.

In a particular embodiment, each set-top box device that communicateswith the multicast-enabled network can include location information. Thelocation information can indicate a geographic area of the customerpremise at which the set-top box device is located, one or moregeographic areas for which a user of the set-top box device is to bealerted regarding an emergency, or any combination thereof. For example,the first representative set-top box device 116 can include locationinformation related to a geographic area of the first customer premise,and the second representative set-top box device 124 can includelocation information related to a geographic area of the second customerpremise. In another example, each set-top box device can includelocation information related to nearby geographic areas, geographicareas of one or more relatives of users of the set-top box device, oradditional geographic areas other than that of the customer premise atwhich each set-top box device is located.

Location information can be included at the set-top box devices 116, 124in a variety of ways. For example, an installer that installs a set-topbox device at a customer premise can enter location information at thetime of installation. Alternatively, the set-top box device can receivethe location information from the OSS/BSS server 164, the subscriber andsystem store 148, or any combination thereof, when a user accountassociated with a set-top box device is created.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices 116, 124 candetermine upon powering up whether they have current locationinformation, if any. A set-top box device can issue a request via themulticast-enabled network to receive location information. In anillustrative embodiment, a server of the IPTV system 100, such as themulticast alert server(s) 182, the application server 142, OSS/BSSserver 164, the subscriber and system store 148, or any combinationthereof, can determine location information related to the set-top boxdevice, based on an IP address of the set-top box device, a geographiclocation of the set-top box device, location information selected by acustomer associated with the set-top box device, or any combinationthereof. The location information can be sent to the requesting set-topbox device via the multicast-enabled network.

In an illustrative embodiment, when a set-top box device, such as thefirst representative set-top box device 116, receives a multicastemergency alert message from the multicast alert server(s) 182 via themulticast-enabled network, the set-top box device 116 determines alocation code indicated by data included with the multicast emergencyalert message and compares the location code with the locationinformation stored at the set-top box device 116. If the location codematches the location information, the set-top box device can execute aset-top box action indicated by data included with the multicastemergency alert message. A set-top box action can include requestingvideo content of a target channel from a video server 180 of the IPTVsystem 100; transmitting such video content to a television monitor 118;producing an audio alert via a speaker or other audio element of theset-top box device 116 or television monitor 118; producing a visualalert via a light, light-emitting diode (LED), or other visual elementof the set-top box device 116; sending emergency alert informationincluded with the multicast emergency alert message to the televisionmonitor 118, such as scrolling text overlaying video content; or anycombination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, when another set-top box device in anothergeographic location, such as the second representative set-top boxdevice 124, receives the same multicast emergency alert message from themulticast alert server(s) 182 via the multicast-enabled network, theset-top box device 124 can determine the location code indicated by dataincluded with the multicast emergency alert message and compare thelocation code with the location information stored at the set-top boxdevice 124. If the set-top box device 124 determines that the locationcode does not match the location information stored at the set-top boxdevice 124, the set-top box device can delete or otherwise discard themulticast emergency alert message received from the multicast alertserver(s) 182.

In a particular embodiment, a computing device can be coupled tocustomer premise equipment at a customer premise where a set-top boxdevice is located. For example, a computing device 176 can be coupled tothe second customer premise equipment 122 at the second customer premisewhere the second representative set-top box device 124 is located. In anillustrative embodiment, the computing device 176 can download and storelocation information from the multicast alert server(s) 182 orapplication server 142 via the multicast-enabled network, the publicnetwork, or any combination thereof. The computing device 176 canreceive multicast emergency alert messages sent by the multicast alertserver(s) 182 via the second customer premise equipment 122. Thecomputing device 176 can compare a location code indicated by data of amuilticast emergency alert message and can indicate that a multicastemergency alert message has been received at the second representativeset-top box device 124, for example. In another embodiment, thecomputing device can display emergency alert information, such as text,audio, video, or any combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second particular embodiment of a system tocommunicate emergency alerts is illustrated and designated generally at200. The system 200 includes a set-top box device 202 that communicateswith a multicast alert server 232 of an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) system via a multicast-enabled IPTV access network 226. Further,the multicast alert server 232 communicates with an emergency alertsystem (EAS) receiver 244. In addition, a computing device 229 cancommunicate with the multicast alert server 232 via the IPTV accessnetwork 226 via the network access customer premises equipment 228.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the set-top box device 202 includes a STBprocessor 204 and a memory device 206 accessible to the STB processor204. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the STB processor 204can communicate with the IPTV access network 226, via the networkinterface 208. In a particular embodiment, network access customerpremises equipment (CPE) 228 can facilitate communication between thenetwork interface 208 and the IPTV access network 226. The networkaccess CPE 228 can include a router, a local area network device, amodem, such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, any other suitabledevice for facilitating communication between the network interface 208of the set-top box device 202 and the IPTV access network 226, or anycombination thereof. Further, the STB processor 204 can communicatevideo content and emergency alert information to a display device 212via a display interface 210. In addition, the STB processor 204 canreceive commands from a remote control device 230 via a remote interface216.

In a particular embodiment, the memory device 206 can include an alertreceipt module 218 that is executable by the STB processor 204 toreceive multicast emergency alert messages from the multicast alertserver 232. In an illustrative embodiment, the alert receipt module 218can be executable by the STB processor 204 to listen to the IPTV accessnetwork 226 for such messages. Further, the memory device 206 caninclude a video content control and buffer module 220 that is executableby the STB processor 204 to receive video content via the IPTV accessnetwork 226 and to buffer the video content before transmitting it tothe display interface 210, in order to prevent underflow.

In an illustrative embodiment, the memory device 206 can include alocation filter module 222 that is executable by the STB processor 204to store location information related to one or more geographic areasfor which a user of the set-top box device 202 is to be alerted aboutemergencies. Further, the location filter module 222 is executable bythe STB processor 204 to determine a location code indicated by data ofa multicast emergency alert message and to compare the location codewith the location information stored at the set-top box device 202.Location information can be stored at the location filter module 222when the set-top box device 202 is installed at a customer premise; whenan account associated with the set-top box device 202 is created; uponrequest from the set-top box device 202, for example, upon powering up;or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the memory device 206 can include an actionexecute module 224 that is executable by the STB processor 204 todetermine a set-top box action indicated by data of the multicastemergency alert message and to execute the set-top box action when alocation code indicated by data of the multicast emergency alert messagematches location information stored at the set-top box device 202. Forexample, the action execute module 224 can be executable by the STBprocessor 204 to request video content of a particular channel from avideo server; to transmitting particular video content to the displaydevice 212; to produce an audio alert via a speaker 214 or other audioelement of the set-top box device 202 or the display device 212;producing a visual alert via a light 215, light-emitting diode (LED), orother visual element of the set-top box device 202; sending emergencyalert information included with the multicast emergency alert message tothe display device 212, such as scrolling text overlaying video content;or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the location filter module 222 can beexecutable by the STB processor 204 to determine whether locationinformation is stored at the set-top box device 202. For example, thelocation filter module 222 can be executable by the STB processor 204 todetermine, upon the set-top box device 202 powering up or switching toan activated mode, whether location information is stored at the memorydevice 206. In an illustrative embodiment, the location filter module222 can be executable by the STB processor 204 to determine whether anylocation information stored at the set-top box device 202 is current. Ifno location information, or non-current location information, is storedat the set-top box device 202, the location filter module 222 can beexecutable by the STB processor 204 to request location information fromthe multicast alert server 232 or another server via the IPTV accessnetwork 226 and to store location information received via the IPTVaccess network 226.

In a particular embodiment, the multicast alert server 232 can includean alert server processor 234. The multicast alert server 232 can alsoinclude a multicast server memory device 235. The multicast servermemory device 235 can include an alert receipt module 236 that isexecutable by the alert server processor 234 to communicate with the EASreceiver 244 via the Internet, a private network of the IPTV system, orany combination thereof, to receive emergency alerts. In an illustrativeembodiment, the multicast server memory device 235 can include amulticast message module 238 that is executable by the alert serverprocessor 234 to determine one or more intended geographic locations ofan emergency alert and to determine a set-top box action based on anemergency alert. Further, the multicast message module 238 can beexecutable by the alert server processor 234 to generate a multicastemergency alert message based on the emergency alert received from theEAS receiver 244. The multicast emergency alert message can include datarelated to a location code that corresponds to the intended location(s)and data related to the determined set-top box action. In a particularembodiment, the multicast emergency alert message can also include datarelated to emergency alert information received with the emergencyalert, such as a type of emergency, a degree of urgency of an emergency,safety precaution instructions, an elimination or ceasing of theemergency, a path or direction of the emergency, or any combinationthereof.

The multicast message module 238 is executable by the alert serverprocessor 234 to multicast emergency alert messages to a plurality ofset-top box devices, including the set-top box device 202, via the IPTVaccess network 226. The plurality of set-top box devices can include allset-top box devices communicating with the IPTV access network 226, orany portion of such set-top box devices. In an illustrative embodiment,the multicast message module 238 can be executable by the alert serverprocessor 234 to multicast emergency alert messages to a computingdevice 229 coupled to the network access customer premise equipment 228at a customer premise where one of the plurality of set-top box devicesis located.

In a particular embodiment, the multicast server memory device 235 caninclude a location code module 240 that associates various locationcodes with various geographic locations of set-top box devices withwhich the multicast alert server 232 communicates. In an illustrativeembodiment, location codes can include federal information protocolstandards (FIPS) codes, proprietary location codes, other locationcodes, or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the multicast server memory device 235 caninclude a location information module 242 that is executable by thealert server processor 234 to receive and process a request from aset-top box device, such as the set-top box device 202, for locationinformation. In an illustrative embodiment, the location informationmodule 242 can be executable by the alert server processor 234 todetermine location information for a requesting set-top box device basedon an IP address associated with the requesting set-top box device, atwisted pair associated with the requesting set-top box device, acustomer account associated with the requesting set-top box device, orany combination thereof. The location information module 242 isexecutable by the alert server processor 234 to send the determinedlocation information to the requesting set-top box device via the IPTVaccess network 226.

In a particular embodiment, the location information module 242 can beexecutable by the alert server processor 234 to receive and process arequest from a computing device, such as the computing device 229, forlocation information. In an illustrative embodiment, the locationinformation module 242 can be executable by the alert server processor234 to determine location information for a requesting computing devicebased on an IP address associated with the requesting computing device,a twisted pair associated with the requesting computing device, acustomer account associated with the requesting computing device, or anycombination thereof. The location information module 242 is executableby the alert server processor 234 to send the determined locationinformation to the requesting computing device via the IPTV accessnetwork 226.

In an illustrative embodiment, the various modules 218-224 and 236-242can include logic, hardware, computer instructions, or any combinationthereof.

Referring to FIG. 3, a particular illustrative embodiment of a method ofcommunicating emergency alerts is illustrated. At decision step 300, amulticast alert server of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) systemdetermines whether it has received a request for location informationfrom a set-top box device. If the multicast alert server determines thatit has not received a request for location information from a set-topbox device, the method proceeds to decision step 306. Conversely, if themulticast alert server determines that it has received a request forlocation information from a set-top box device, the method moves toblock 302, and the multicast alert server determines locationinformation corresponding to the requesting set-top box device. At block304, the multicast alert server sends the location information to therequesting set-top box device. The method then moves to decision step306.

The location information can indicate a geographic area of the customerpremise at which the set-top box device is located, one or moregeographic areas for which a user of the set-top box device is to bealerted regarding an emergency, or any combination thereof. In anillustrative embodiment, the multicast alert server can determinelocation information for a requesting set-top box device based on an IPaddress associated with the requesting set-top box device, a geographiclocation associated with the requesting set-top box device, a twistedpair associated with the requesting set-top box device, a customeraccount associated with the requesting set-top box device, or anycombination thereof.

At decision step 306, the multicast alert server determines whether ithas received an emergency alert from an emergency alert system (EAS)receiver. The emergency alert can be a weather alert, a civil defensealert, an Amber alert, a Presidential alert, or any other emergencyalert. In a particular embodiment, the emergency alert can indicate oneor more geographic areas to which the emergency alert applies, such as astreet, city, zip code, area code, county, state, region, time zone,nation, or other geographic area. In an illustrative embodiment, theemergency alert can also include emergency alert information, such asthe type of emergency, a degree of urgency associated with theemergency, safety precaution instructions, other emergency alertinformation, or any combination thereof. In an illustrative embodiment,the emergency alert can be received via a public Internet Protocol (IP)network, such as the Internet, via a private network of the IPTV system,or any combination thereof.

If the multicast alert server determines that it has not received anemergency alert, the method terminates at 312. On the other hand, if themulticast alert server determines that it has received an emergencyalert, the method continues to block 308. At block 308, in a particularembodiment, the multicast alert server converts the emergency alert intoa multicast emergency alert message that includes data related to aset-top box action and data related to a location code. In a particularembodiment, the multicast emergency alert message can include datarelated to any emergency alert information included with the emergencyalert received from the EAS receiver. In an illustrative embodiment, themulticast alert server can format the multicast emergency alert messageto be sent via a multicast-enabled network.

Moving to block 310, the multicast alert server sends the multicastemergency alert message to a plurality of set-top box devices via amulticast-enabled network of the IPTV system. The set-top box devicescan be in different geographic areas and can include all set-top boxdevices communicating with the multicast-enabled network, or one or moregroups of set-top box devices communicating with the multicast-enablednetwork. Each set-top box device can determine a location code based ondata of the multicast emergency alert message and can compare thelocation code to location information stored at the set-top box device.If the location code matches the location information, the set-top boxdevice can execute the set-top box action indicated in data of themulticast emergency alert message. The method terminates at 312.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second particular illustrative embodiment of amethod of communicating emergency alerts is illustrated. At block 400, aset-top box powers on or comes to an activated state. Moving to decisionstep 402, in a particular embodiment, the set-top box device determineswhether location information is stored at the set-top box device. If theset-top box device determines that location information is stored at theset-top box device, the method proceeds to block 408. On the other hand,if the set-top box device determines that location information is notstored at the set-top box device, or location information stored at theset-top box device is not current, the method moves to block 404, andthe set-top box device requests location information from a server, suchas an application server or multicast alert server, of an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) system via a multicast-enabled network of theIPTV system. The method continues to block 406, and the set-top boxdevice receives the location information.

At block 408, in a particular embodiment, the set-top box device listensfor multicast emergency alert messages on the IPTV network. Proceedingto decision step 410, the set-top box device can determine whether ithas received a multicast emergency alert message from a multicast alertserver of the IPTV system via the IPTV network. If the set-top boxdevice determines that it has not received a multicast emergency alertmessage, the method returns to block 408, and the set-top box devicecontinues to listen for multicast emergency alert messages on the IPTVnetwork. If the set-top box device determines that it has received amulticast emergency alert message, the method advances to block 412, andthe set-top box device determines a set-top box action and a locationcode from data of the multicast emergency alert message.

Moving to block 414, the set-top box device compares the determinedlocation code with location information stored at the set-top boxdevice. The method continues to decision step 416, and the set-top boxdevice determines whether the determined location code matches thelocation information. In an illustrative embodiment, if the set-top boxdevice determines that the determined location code does not match thelocation information, the method moves to block 418, and the set-top boxdevice can delete or otherwise discard the multicast emergency alertmessage. The method then returns to block 410 and continues.

Returning to decision step 416, if the set-top box device determinesthat the determined location code matches the location information, themethod proceeds to block 420, and the set-top box device executes theset-top box action determined from data of the multicast emergency alertmessage. In one embodiment, the set-top box action can be a channelchange action. For example, the emergency alert can be a Presidential orother government announcement televised on a particular channel. Themethod can move to block 422, and the set-top box device can requestvideo content of the particular channel from a video server of the IPTVsystem and can send the video content to a display device coupled to theset-top box device.

In another embodiment, the set-top box action can be an audio/visualalert action. The method can move to block 424, and the set-top boxdevice can produce an audio alert via a speaker or other audio elementof the set-top box device or television monitor; produce a visual alertvia a light, light-emitting diode (LED), or other visual element of theset-top box device; or any combination thereof.

In a further embodiment, the set-top box action can be an informationdisplay action. The method proceeds to block 426, and the set-top boxdevice can send emergency alert information included with the multicastemergency alert message to the television monitor, such as scrollingtext overlaying video content. The method terminates at 428.

In a particular embodiment, the steps of the methods described hereincan be executed in the order shown by the figures. In alternativeembodiments, some steps can be executed simultaneously or in alternativesequences.

In conjunction with the configuration of structure described herein, thesystem and method disclosed provide communication of emergency alerts.In a particular illustrative embodiment, an emergency alert is receivedat the EAS off-air receiver. The emergency alert can be a weather alert,a civil defense alert, an Amber alert, a Presidential alert, or anyother emergency alert. In a particular embodiment, the emergency alertcan indicate one or more geographic areas to which the emergency alertapplies, such as a street, city, zip code, area code, county, state,region, time zone, nation, or other geographic area. The emergency alertcan also include emergency alert information, such as the type ofemergency, a degree of urgency associated with the emergency, safetyprecaution instructions, other emergency alert information, or anycombination thereof.

The EAS off-air receiver communicates the emergency alert to one or moremulticast alert servers of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)system. The multicast alert server(s) generate a multicast emergencyalert message based on the emergency alert. In a particular embodiment,the multicast emergency alert message includes data related to alocation code and data related to an action to be taken by a set-top boxdevice. The location code(s) can indicate one or more geographic areasto which the emergency alert received from the EAS off-air receiverapplies. For instance, the location code can indicate streets, zipcodes, area codes, cities, counties, states, regions, time zones,nations, or other geographic areas. In another embodiment, the locationcode(s) can indicate one or more IP addresses of set-top box devices inthe intended geographic area(s).

The multicast emergency alert message can also include data related toany emergency alert information included with the emergency alertreceived from the EAS off-air receiver. In an illustrative embodiment,the multicast alert server(s) can format the multicast emergency alertmessage to be sent via a multicast-enabled network of the IPTV system toa plurality of set-top box devices in multiple geographic areas.

In a particular embodiment, each set-top box device that communicateswith the multicast-enabled network can include location information. Thelocation information can indicate a geographic area of the customerpremise at which the set-top box device is located, one or moregeographic areas for which a user of the set-top box device is to bealerted regarding an emergency, or any combination thereof. For example,a set-top box device can include location information related to ageographic area of the customer premise at which the set-top box devicelocated. In another example, each set-top box device can includelocation information related to nearby geographic areas, geographicareas of one or more relatives of users of the set-top box device, oradditional geographic areas other than that of the customer premise atwhich each set-top box device is located.

In an illustrative embodiment, when a set-top box device receives amulticast emergency alert message from the multicast alert server(s) viathe multicast-enabled network, the set-top box device determines alocation code indicated by data included with the multicast emergencyalert message and compares the location code with the locationinformation stored at the set-top box device. If the location codematches the location information, the set-top box device can execute aset-top box action indicated by data included with the multicastemergency alert message. A set-top box action can include requestingvideo content of a particular channel from a video server of the IPTVsystem; transmitting such video content to a television monitor coupledto the set-top box device; producing an audio alert via a speaker orother audio element of the set-top box device or television monitor;producing a visual alert via a light, light-emitting diode (LED), orother visual element of the set-top box device; sending emergency alertinformation included with the multicast emergency alert message to thetelevision monitor, such as scrolling text overlaying video content; orany combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, when another set-top box device in anothergeographic location receives the same multicast emergency alert messagefrom the multicast alert server(s) via the multicast-enabled network,the set-top box device can determine the location code indicated by dataincluded with the multicast emergency alert message and compare thelocation code with the location information stored at the set-top boxdevice. If the set-top box device determines that the location code doesnot match the location information stored at the set-top box device, theset-top box device can delete or otherwise discard the multicastemergency alert message received from the multicast alert server(s).

In a particular embodiment, a set-top box device can request locationinformation. For example, a set-top box device can determine uponpowering up that it does not have current location information, if any.The set-top box device can issue a request via the multicast-enablednetwork to receive location information. In an illustrative embodiment,a server of the IPTV system, such as the multicast alert server(s) or anapplication server, can determine location information related to theset-top box device and can send the location information to therequesting set-top box device via the multicast-enabled network.

In a particular embodiment, a computing device can be coupled tocustomer premise equipment at a customer premise where a set-top boxdevice is located. In an illustrative embodiment, the computing devicecan download and store location information from the multicast alertserver(s) or application server via the multicast-enabled network, apublic network, such as the Internet, or any combination thereof. Thecomputing device can receive multicast emergency alert messages sent bythe multicast alert server(s) via the customer premise equipment. Thecomputing device can compare a location code indicated by data of amulticast emergency alert message and can indicate that a multicastemergency alert message has been received at the set-top box device, forexample. In another embodiment, the computing device can displayemergency alert information, such as text, audio, video, or anycombination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 500. The computer system 500 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 500 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 500, or any portionthereof, may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g.,using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices,including a server or set-top box device, as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of an IPTV server, such as a video server or multicast alertserver, or a set-top box device. The computer system 500 can also beimplemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as anemergency alert system (EAS) receiver, a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), amobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-linetelephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, aprinter, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a networkrouter, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system500 can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice,video or data communication. Further, while a single computer system 500is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the computer system 500 may include aprocessor 502, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), agraphics-processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system500 can include a main memory 504 and a static memory 506 that cancommunicate with each other via a bus 508. As shown, the computer system500 may further include a video display unit 510, such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flatpanel display, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 500 may include an input device 512,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 514, such as a mouse.Further, the computer system 500 can include a wireless input device515, e.g., a remote control device. The computer system 500 can alsoinclude a disk drive unit 516, a signal generation device 518, such as aspeaker or remote control, and a network interface device 520.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 5, the disk drive unit516 may include a computer-readable medium 522 in which one or more setsof instructions 524, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 524 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 524 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 504,the static memory 506, and/or within the processor 502 during executionby the computer system 500. The main memory 504 and the processor 502also may include computer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 524 or receives and executes instructions 524responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 526 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 526.Further, the instructions 524 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 526 via the network interface device 520.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

In accordance with various embodiments, the methods described herein maybe implemented as one or more software programs running on a computerprocessor. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limitedto, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Furthermore, alternative softwareimplementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

It should also be noted that software that implements the disclosedmethods may optionally be stored on a tangible storage medium, such as:a magnetic medium, such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk; or a solid state medium, such as a memory cardor other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories. The software may also utilize a signal containing computerinstructions. A digital file attachment to e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives is considered adistribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storagemedium or distribution medium as listed herein, and other equivalentsand successor media, in which the software implementations herein may bestored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed hereinare considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extentallowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determinedby the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims andtheir equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by theforegoing detailed description.

1. A set-top box device, comprising: a processor and a memory deviceaccessible to the processor; wherein the memory device includesinstructions to communicate with a multicast alert server to receive amulticast emergency alert message, the multicast emergency alert messageincluding data related to a location code and data related to a set-topbox action; wherein the memory device stores location information andincludes instructions to execute the set-top box action when thelocation code matches the location information.
 2. The set-top boxdevice of claim 1, wherein the multicast emergency alert message isreceived via a multicast-enabled network of an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) system.
 3. The set-top box device of claim 2, wherein:the multicast emergency alert message includes data related to emergencyalert information; the memory device includes a buffer to receive videocontent from a video server of the IPTV system; and the emergency alertinformation is sent to a display device coupled to the set-top boxdevice when the location code matches the location information.
 4. Theset-top box device of claim 3, wherein the emergency alert informationis displayed overlaying the video content at the display device.
 5. Theset-top box device of claim 2, wherein the location information isreceived at the set-top box device from the multicast alert server whena user account associated with the set-top box device is created at oneof the multicast alert server and another server of the IPTV system. 6.The set-top box device of claim 1, wherein the memory device deletes themulticast emergency alert message when the location code does not matchthe location information.
 7. The set-top box device of claim 1, furthercomprising determining the set-top box action based on the emergencyalert.
 8. The set-top box device of claim 1, wherein the locationinformation is pre-installed at the memory device.
 9. A system tocommunicate emergency alerts, the system comprising: a multicast alertserver having a processor and a memory device accessible to theprocessor; wherein the memory device includes instructions to send amulticast emergency alert message to a first set-top box device at afirst location and to a second set-top box device at a second locationvia a multicast-enabled network, wherein the multicast emergency alertmessage includes data related to a set-top box action and data relatedto a location code; and wherein the first set-top box device executesthe set-top box action when the location code corresponds to the firstlocation, and the second set-top box device executes the set-top boxaction when the location code corresponds to the second location. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the set-top box action includesrequesting video content of a target channel from a server, transmittingvideo content to a television monitor, producing an audio alert,producing a visual alert, sending emergency alert information to adisplay device, or any combination thereof.
 11. The system of claim 9,wherein the location code is a federal information processing standards(FIPS) code.
 12. The system of claim 9, further comprising: instructionsto communicate with an emergency alert system (EAS) receiver to receivean emergency alert; instructions to generate emergency alert informationbased on the emergency alert; and instructions to include data relatedto the emergency alert information with the multicast emergency alertmessage.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the emergency alertinformation includes a type of the multicast emergency alert message, adegree of urgency of the multicast emergency alert message, a timeperiod related to the multicast emergency alert message, safetyprecaution instructions related to the multicast emergency alertmessage, a dissipation of an emergency, a path of an emergency, or anycombination thereof.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the locationcode indicates an Internet Protocol address, a street, a city, a zipcode, an area code, a county, a state, a time zone, a geographic region,a nation or any combination thereof associated with the multicastemergency alert message.
 15. The system of claim 9, further comprisinginstructions to format the multicast emergency alert message fortransmission via the multicast-enabled network.